The buccal nerve is a nerve of the face. It is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.
It supplies sensation to the skin of the cheek, buccal mucosa and 2nd & 3rd molar teeth.
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Course
The buccal nerve originates from the anterior trunk of the mandibular nerve.
It first travels between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath the tendon of the temporalis.
The buccal nerve then passes anterior to the ramus of the mandible and deep to the masseter muscle. It emerges from the anterior border of the masseter and pierces the buccinator muscle.
It terminates as several sensory branches to the buccal mucosa and 2nd and 3rd molar teeth.
Fig 1
The buccal nerve emerges from between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
Sensory Supply
The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to:
- Skin of the cheek
- Buccal mucosa
- Second and third molar teeth